Collapsible straining-funnel.



A. T. STATA.

GOLLAPSIBLE STBAINING FUNNEL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 6, 1908.

1,007,401, j Patented Oct. 31,1911.

COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH CO-.W

ALVIN T. STATA, or Minivnaroms, MI n sor COLLAPSIBLE STRAINING-FUNNEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 19,11.

AppFcation filed July, 6, 1908. Serial No. 1,41,957.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALVIN T. STATA, a. citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCollapsible straining-Funnels; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention has for its object to provide an improved strainer funnelespecially adapted for use in filling gasolene tanks of automobileengines, but adapted for general use wherever a straining funnel may befound desirable.

For automobile use it is highly desirable that the funnel, when not inuse, be capable of being collapsed so that it will occupy but littlespace and, hence, this improved funnel is made up of a multiplicity oftelescopic conical sections.

Dirt and water in gasolene are very detrimental and when introduced intothe explosive chamber of the engine materially interfere with the properrunning of the engine. They are liable to plug up the minute oilpassages of the vaporizer and by collection upon the electrodes of thesparking device are liable to interfere with the proper ignition.

Automobilists, as is well known, very frequently find it necessary tobuy gasolene in places along the line of travel where no particular careis taken to keep the gasolene clean or free from water. To provide aneflicient strainer I employ a concave diaphragm or sheet of chamois, theedge of which is secured to the upper edge of the upper section of thefunnel, and the intermediate portion of which is preferably connected tothe lower section or neck of the funnel, so that when the funnel isdrawn out or extended this chamois diaphragm will be drawn down into thefunnel and the funnel thereby instantly put in condition for use.

Chamois, as is well known, will permit light oil, such as gasolene, tofreely pass therethrough, but will hold back or restrain the passagetherethrough of water and of all foreign materials, such as dirt. It is,therefore, the proper material for use as a strainer for gasolene.

The invention is illustrated in the single view of drawing wherein thenumeral 1 indicates the stem of the funnel, and the numerals 2, 8, 4 and5 indicate the telescopic sections which make up the funnel. The upperend of the stem 1 telescopes into the lower section 2 and is flared'toprevent it from being completely drawn out of the same. The chamoisdiaphragm or sheet 6 is preferably detachably secured at its upper edgeto the upper edge of the body section 5, by a clamping ring 7. Thecentral portion of this chamois diaphragm 6 is gathered around a body,such as a buck-shot 8, and a light wire or cord 9 is tied around thesame at its intermediate portion and connected at its ends to the upperend of the stem 1, as

shown at 10.

It is evident that when the sections of the funnel described are pushedtogether, or, in other words, when the funnel is collapsed, it willoccupy but very little space and hence may be easily carried in anordinary tool boX. When, however, the sections of the funnel are drawnout or extended as shown in the drawing, the diaphragm 6 will be drawninto the same and the funnel will be instantly put in condition for use.

It is important that the connection between the chamois diaphragm andthe lower section of the funnel be made without perforating the saiddiaphragm. Chamois, if perforated even by the finest stitches, will nothold back water and, hence, a connection including a ball and cord orflexible wire affords a simple and efficient means for connecting thediaphragm to the lower funnel section without decreasing the efiiciencyof the said diaphragm as a strainer for the purposes had in view.

To prevent collapsing of the funnel when the sections thereof are drawnout, as shown in the drawing, two or more rods or arms 11 are pivotallyconnected to lugs 12 on the uppermost funnel section 5 and their freeends are adapted to be engaged with stop lugs 13 on the lower funnelsect-ion 2. In the drawing, one of these rods 11 is shown as engagedwith one of the lugs 13, for the purposes above stated, while the otherthereof is shown as folded or turned over the top of the upper funnelsection 5 to illustrate the manner in which both rods will be foldedwhen the funnel is collapsed.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A collapsible funnel provided with a chamois diaphragm connectedatits edge to the edge of the upper portion of said funnel and havingits intermediate portion connected to a lower portion of said tunnel,whereby, when the funnel is extended, said a diaphragm will be drawninto the same.

2. A collapsible funnel made up of telescopic sections, in combinationwith a chamois diaphragm connected at its edge to the upper edge of theupper funnel section, and a flexible connection between the intermediateportion of said diaphragm and the lower section of said funnel, whereby,when the funnel is extended, said diaphragm will be drawn into the same.

3. The combination with a collapsible funnel, of a flexible diaphragmattached to its edge to the upper portion of said funnel, a ball or headapplied to the central portion of said diaphragm and around which thesaid diaphragm is gathered, and a flexible connection secured about thegathered portion of said diaphragm above said ball or head, and attachedto the lower portion of the funnel.

In testimony whereof I aitix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ALVIN T. STATA. Witnesses:

HARRY D. KILGORE, H. D. MERCHANT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 6.

